The Principal's Office

[tailor_made]

The door to the principal’s office is open at all hours, although you will only find Hester at the receptionist’s desk from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is primarily where you can have private conversations with her. Though there’s an actual office in the back, it is always closed and locked.

Comments

[tailor_made]

[As it happens, Hester is absent from her office. You're all alone, Cass.

What do you do?]

[mcfife]

Then where do you get so many? It has been only a few weeks, yet the terrarium is getting full.

[tellthestory]

The - oh, he knows the Player?

[Well, that makes a little more sense. Though, what problem could anybody have with her? He supposes she's a bit of a strong personality, but she's never been anything but nice to him!]

What, are they competing over this show concept? That seems really petty.

[tailor_made]

The good news is you have a... [She does some quick mental math, silently counting on her fingers.] One in one hundred and thirty-three shot of getting another one. Or maybe someone else has one they'll give you. I've heard yard sards are very popular for trading.

[As for where they came from...] I just assumed they were a magical manifestation. They're real lizards, obviously, just magically manifested here.

[tailor_made]

It's not petty to us. Our show has meaning to it, we have actual goals we want to achieve.

Not like her.

[mcfife]

[What on Earth is a yard sard? A bartering spell?]

So they were taken from their habitat, but they are not familiars. [He thinks he gets it.] Is that where The Wizard gets everything from those machines?

[tailor_made]

Yes, exactly! [She smiles.] Sort of, yes. Most of it is just stray bits and bobs from other worlds, things that are recognizable but not necessarily belonging to anyone here.

But I'm sure you've noticed a lot of your things are in there as well.

[mcfife]

...Yes.

The Knife of Evil.

Are you familiar with the artifact?

[tailor_made]

We did, a little. [She eases back into her chair, turning just a little back and forth on the swivel. It's a subtle and silly thing, almost childish.] She asked me for it and I was happy to get it for her after she described it. We didn't speak a lot but...

She was always so kind, even to me. Like you are.

[tailor_made]

[Hester, who's in the middle of pouring one of two cups of tea, blinks in surprise but it doesn't take her more than a few seconds to sus out what she means.]

My first suggestion would be a buddy system. Or a couple system in your case.

[tailor_made]

I know enough. Why?

[tailor_made]

[Hester, to her credit, seems less surprised by Peregrine's sudden entrance this time. She just slides a steaming cup of tea across her desk toward her and folds her hands in front of her, her expression utterly patient.]

Sure, Peregrine. Just tell me what it is.

[Since Peregrine probably didn't have a lot of time before to really get a look at the place before there are two big things of note: a vase of fresh flowers sitting on the edge of her desk closest to the wall and an impressive poster on the back wall.]

[tailor_made]

[Hester smiles, her expression soft but there's also something else there that's hard to put a finger on.]

I...think I'd like that. [She chuckles a little.] I think you're maybe the third person in as long as I can remember who's actually said they want to listen to me talk.

cw: animal bits NOT EVEN THE MODS ARE IMMUNE

[comeandfindme]

[ Weirdly agreeable... Peregrine doesn't like it. She keeps her scowl, though she glances at both the vase and the poster (is that— from the Les Miserables—?) ]

If your vending machine's gonna keep spitting out deer skins, I need a place to dispose of the flesh. Usually I'd bury it, but we don't have access to the outside.

[mayavericks]

[She's just about to turn to the leave but... she pauses, half turned.]



I think you need to get to know some better people. [She gestures to the hall outside.]

We're happy to be speak with you whenever you want.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Perfect. Not that Cassandra's going to celebrate just yet. She made it in, and now there's a unknown length of time between her chance to find whatever she's seeking, and Hester coming back to her seat.

...May as well go back behind the receptionist's desk and start coming through it.]

[tellthestory]

Every show has goals. You don't go to all that effort for no reason. She's trying to make a new piece of art, for people to have fun!

[I mean. Technically accurate???]

[violentenvies]

[There's a throb of pain somewhere in his chest at that, and he sucks in a small breath, having to blink a little bit at the moisture in his eyes]

Madame Elisabeth was a very kind woman. She was thoughtful and sweet, and humble in a way that one doesn't normally expect from an Empress.

[he's quiet for a brief moment, then]

As for me...how could I help but be kind to you?

Friday, post Trial 2

[violentenvies]

[After making some rounds with Spongebob to deliver some hot chocolate and snacks, Salieri will make his way around to stop by Hester's office once again with a tray, moving to knock on the door]

[mcfife]

Do you have the original?

...Is there a reason why you only gave me a replica?

[tailor_made]

Because I know most of you hate me. [She says it so softly but as a resigned fact.] And it's okay. I'm used to people not liking me.

At least here you all have a good reason.

[tailor_made]

[A h.

Hester's smile doesn't quite falter but the corner of her mouth does twitch slightly. She sets down the plate and turns to her laptop, pulling up some kind of program Ben likely won't recognize and typing on her keyboard.]

Your daughter, that's Johanna, right?

[tailor_made]

No, we don't have it. The original is long gone at this point. That's why you just have a rubber replica.

[tailor_made]

People having fun at the expense of-! [She straightens her posture, her scowl deepening.] At the expense of a whole lot of other things that she clearly doesn't care about.

[violentenvies]

[at that, he frowns slightly, in concern]

...I...am sorry to hear that. That this is something you're used to. In here I cannot say that I fault those here in their bitterness, however...there is the saying that I'm well aware of about not shooting the messenger. Here, if I'm not mistaken, you deliver whatever messages the Wizard asks you to. You are not an architect of whatever game is being played here.

However...I cannot imagine what on the outside would make anyone treat you that way. Not when you've been so kind and helpful to myself and others, when it was requested.